FLYING WITH A
BLUE ANGEL By John Beasley I had the unique opportunity to be selected as one of three in our community to climb aboard a Blue Angel F-18 and experience first hand what the Navy’s precision flight demonstration team (known as the BLUE ANGELS) do each year as they visit the United States and encourage old and young alike to gain a greater appreciation for our men and women who protect our country all over the world and on a 24/7 basis. Ready to defend anywhere, anytime and on very short notice. My instructions were to be at the Yorktown gate at NAS-JAX at 11:15 AM. I was also told I could bring family, friends, and even my students, and I did just that. Some of my current students and those who had graduated were able to experience the Navy’s hospitality and were included in on everything (except there were only 2 seats in the aircraft and I had reservations for 1 of those 2). We were escorted to Air OPS by the control tower. After a brief introduction we gathered into a meeting room and everyone had a seat. A safety briefing was given with steps to prevent passing out and yes, the ultimate...losing your lunch, breakfast and dinner from the night before. And NO...I lost nothing.
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I had to sign a card (not to blame anyone for anything that might...happen). And a briefing on the possibility of having to leave the aircraft via a parachute was given. The seat that I occupied contained in simple terms...a rocket engine that would safely take me away from the aircraft in seconds. That did not happen. A crew chief is assigned to each Blue Angel pilot and aircraft, our aircraft was Blue Angel number Seven. I was given a flight suit to change into and proceeded out to the flight line. Just looking at the aircraft I was about to embark on was awesome. This aircraft,
